Apple are one of the world’s most recognisable brands with a wide range of business and consumer hardware products, many of which have become household names, but whilst the company is perhaps best known today for its successes with the iPhone and iPad, what constitutes the Apple line up in the arena where the company first made its mark: computers?
If you’re unfamiliar with Apple’s product portfolio it can be difficult to determine which machine is right for you, should you be considering making the switch to Apple hardware from a Windows powered computer. There are any number of reasons for wanting to jump ship to the Mac way of life, such as the following:
·
For work – If you’re using
Apple Macs in your work then it may very well make sense to use the same kit at
home to maintain compatibility.
·
For very specialised tasks –
Certain disciplines, such as video editing, are very resource intensive and
therefore require particularly powerful hardware. Traditionally, Macs have been
the most suited for such tasks and even though today there are more than
capable PC alternatives, Apple machines remain the industry standard in fields
such as animation and digital illustration.
·
To get away from Windows –
Being the most used operating system on the planet doesn’t necessarily mean
being the best and a lot of users find their frustration with Microsoft’s cash
cow can get too much to bear, prompting a move to Mac.
·
To fit in – Although many
won’t admit it, the truth is that Apple hardware carries a certain allure as a
status symbol and this air of desirability gives Apple kit the tag of “fashion
accessory”.
Whatever your reasons for wanting to own an Apple Mac, make sure you get the right machine for you. Here’s a look through the current consumer Mac line up:
MacBook Air
The MacBook Air was originally released in 2008 as Apple’s first foray into the growing market for ultraportables – laptops with decent hardware and excellent portability. By 2011 the MacBook Air had replaced the original MacBook as Apple’s entry level laptop range and today these are exceptionally popular machines.
Currently available in 11 inch and 13 inch variants, the MacBook Air offers true on the go computing without sacrificing performance and battery life. The smaller model weighs just over 1kg whilst the 13 inch machine comes in at a featherweight 1.34kg.
The current models, released in April of this year, have only solid state drives for storage and you can choose between 128gb, 256gb or 512gb depending on your needs.
The MacBook Air range starts at $899, rising to $1,749 for the 13 inch model with faster processor and higher storage. Refurbished models can be picked up from $769 or if you’re happy with an older model, they can be found for around $400-$600 second hand.
MacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro range of laptops are Apple’s more powerful portable machines. Introduced in 2006 the MacBook Pro replaced the ageing PowerBook line.
Thicker and heavier than the MacBook Air, the processing power of these machines is also greater than that of their lightweight cousins and the current generation models ship with 8gb of RAM as standard.
The latest MacBook Pro models are available in 13 inch and 15 inch variants and boast Apple’s proprietary Retina display with a high pixel density that offers an incredibly sharp picture on screen. Like the Air, there is no optical drive (CD/DVD drive) included as standard so if you need to use discs you would need a separate plug in drive.
You can pick up a new MacBook Pro with Retina display for $1,299, rising to $3,199 for the most high spec 15 inch model. A refurbished Pro can be found for $929 online or alternatively there are plenty of second hand models available from as little as $350 if you don’t mind an older bit of kit.
iMac
The iMac is Apple’s consumer desktop line and was the first product to adopt the now ubiquitous “i” prefix which accompanies all of Apple’s popular consumer products today, at least until the recently announced Apple Watch bucked the trend.
Launched in 1998 the original iMac was seen as pivotal in reviving Apple’s fortunes in the desktop market where it had been rapidly losing ground to ever increasing numbers of rival PC manufacturers. Its all in one design was revolutionary for the time and almost single handedly made the desktop computera fashion item.
Since its launch it has undergone numerous redesigns and the sleek and streamlined 21.5 inch and 27 inch machines of today are a world away from the bulky CRT bubbles that launched the range 16 years ago.
Suitable for home and business users alike the iMac range starts at$1,099 and rises to $3,949 if you’d like an all singing all dancing version.You can pick up a refurbished iMac from Apple direct for $929 or if you’re prepared to work with an older model they can be bought from as little as $499 for a second hand aluminium 5th generation model. It is not recommended to choose
one of the older iMacs, pre 2007, as these aren’t suited to today’s usage
requirements.
Mac Mini
This small form factor desktop machine is incredibly neat and quiet,capable of slipping unnoticed in even the most cluttered of workspaces. With nodisplay or peripherals included it was introduced in 2005 as the “most affordable Mac ever” and geared towardsthose looking to switch from a Windows powered desktop without wanting to payfull price for an iMac, which has everything built in.
Users simply buy the compact desktop box and plug in their existingcompatible equipment to enjoy the Mac experience without the expense of an allin one machine.
The Mac Mini measures 196mm x 196mm x 36mm meaning it really lives up toits name and it is currently available with either an i5 or i7 processor. Thecurrent entry level model can be purchased for just $599 and this rises to$1,399 for the most capable model. Second hand Mac Minis are plentiful and canbe found for as little as $180 for one of the 2009 Intel powered models. It is
not recommended to go for an earlier model than this.
Whatever your reasons for wanting to jump into bed with Apple, there is sure to be a Mac model to suit your needs and with an ever changing line up,knowing your iMac from your MacBook is paramount to getting the right kit.